Time to plan next year's spiritual and professional development!

Summertime is a great time to plan for personal and professional development.
Check out these and other courses, including 9 online courses!

LAST CALL FOR GUTHRIE SCHOLARS APPLICATIONS!
This program invites participants to the CTS campus to pursue a topic of their
choice that engages a pressing theological issue of the church from a Reformed
perspective. For more info and an application link,
click here.
Applications will be accepted until July 25, 2017

Eco-Kayaking in the Bahamas
– January 4-11, 2018
Join experienced outdoorsman and pastor Steve Harrington and
professor-outdoorsman Mark Douglas for an eco-adventure to begin the new year.

Leadership in Ministry (LIM) Workshops Available in FOUR Locations!
Georgia, Massachusetts, West Virginia and Oregon: select a location and register
for one of the five opportunities for LIM workshops in 2017-18. For a full
description of what LIM entails, and links to registration, click
here.

New for 2017-18
Oct. 10-12, 2017
Yes, And: Improvisational Leadership in Times of Dizzying Change
Improvisation has been a mainstay in the arts for a long time, with business,
academia, and the sciences now following suit. Why not the church? How can we
effectively lead our congregations when “the way we’ve always done it” no longer
serves us? Includes an optional improv session in Atlanta.

January 22-25, 2018
Reformations Then and Now
Reformations continue today. Explore Luther’s experience of the freedom of
conscience in conversation with contemporary issues.

April 19-20, 2018
Christian Educator’s Think Tank
This “think tank” gathers innovative congregational Christian educators from
various faith traditions to explore current challenges, ideals, and hopes for
the work and ministry of faith education in congregations. Selected educators
will present their thinking and experiences in the practice of Christian
education in their context to introduce generative questions for discussion.

April 30 – May 4, 2018
Creating, Equipping and Leading Communities of Just Practice,
More than ever before, communities need skills and strategies, resources and
tools, to live together in ways that are authentically equitable, culturally
diverse, racially just, and radically hospitable. Featuring Deborah F. Mullen,
Fania E. Davis, Marcia Y Riggs.

Online Courses
Aug. 7 – Sept. 1, 2017
The Church: A System of Relationships
This course is an introduction to Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST) applied to
the congregational context and to congregational leadership. Through guided
discussions, reflecting on personal experience, and examining latent theological
ideals of congregation, Church, and leadership, participants will gain a new
understanding of their congregation and their leadership roles.

Sept. 11 – Oct. 6, 2017
Readings in Spiritual Classics
Reading selections from the writings of Thomas à Kempis, Julian of Norwich,
Jonathan Edwards and Evelyn Underhill, students will reflect through online
posts on what they have read. We will look at the historical development of
Christian spirituality while asking how these writings encourage and challenge
our own spiritual formation.

Oct. 16 – Nov. 17, 2017
Marriage and the 21st Century Church
Students in this course will explore the biblical, theological, and historical
foundations of marriage and consider the how the 21st century church
should respond to the realities of contemporary society. Topics include how the
church has or has not been involved in marriage; what the Bible says (and
doesn’t say) about marriage; contemporary expectations of marriage and the
church’s response; and emerging inclusive marriage liturgies.

Registration 4-8 weeks prior to each course is encouraged, as pre-course
preparation and reading may be required. Courses may be canceled or postponed if
sufficient numbers of participants are not enrolled 3-6 weeks prior to the start
date of the event.